It had been three years since Culloden had ended and lallybroch had gone back to its usual rhythm again.

There had been a few changes in being that Jenny had given birth to Michael and Janet, twins born this year and Jamie and I had a daughter two years ago.

What the devil have you been doing now Brianna Ellen Fraser!.

Where's DA mammy?

,

You filthy wee monster, wait till your dad sees you he won't recognize you. You've been in the chickens again haven't you?.

Her eyes slanted turned into slits and gave me a lopsided smile just like Jamie' s then thought better and told the truth.

Aye mammy

An hour later Jamie, Ian and young Jamie came traipsing into the kitchen searching for food, all looking a bit worse for wear. It had become Custom for the men to spend half an hour with their family before supper to catch up on the day and relax.

Jamie usually spent his time playing with Brianna before bed and reading her a story before making love to me, then he would eat twice his body weight.

After Jamie had washed up, he came up to the room to see his daughter.

How have you been mo chride has this one been behaving.. Now it seems not. How have you been terrorizing your mammy a' Leanan ?.

She was In the chickens again, I think we need to make a coop and I might not go through so much washing.

Aye, I'll get young Jamie to do it tomorrow, so our red Heided we lass can stay clean.

Ah, she's fallen to sleep, it must be all the running away from you sassanach.. Mfm.

Jamie had put Brianna to bed and we stripped off of our clothes and made love.

Jamie had fallen asleep with his arms round me making it like a furnace, I always let Jamie sleep for half an hour before going to dinner. I knew Jenny did the Same since i went to ask If i could borrow one of Jenny' s novels and Ian was fast asleep.

Jamie ? We need to get up now or Jenny Will drag us down the stairs.

Mmh.. Come back tae bed my wee sassanach.

Jamie get your arse out the bed or I might have to tickle you.

Och I' m no such tickely myself... No.. Not there sassanach... Argh..dinnae do that.

Downstairs...

I was feeding young Michael while talking to Ian about the day when i heard great thump come from my brothers room.

What the devil is he doing up here and why aren 't they down for supper yet?

Here hold Michael I'm going to see what's a miss.

The lairds room..

How can you be ready again Jamie, it's not like you've been starved.

Yeh know I cannae resist you Claire, I might have carpet burn though because it feels like my arse has been tanned.

I had checked kitty and Maggie before heading along tae the Lairds room, I wish I hadnae bothered.

As I walked in my brother was on the floor naked with his red hair covering most of Claire' s chest, he was laughing at something Claire had said.

Brathair what in gods name is on your back ?

JENNY !

Jamie pulled the cover from the bed and covered Claire and himself, we were just about to come doon Jenny.

Daddy!

Oh shite..

Shite daddy

Jamie !

I didnae mean tae

Can ye no sleep a ' leanan ?

Nay daddy I' hungry

Come Down Brianna and let your mammy and da get dressed, I'll get you some bannocks and warm milk.

Canna go see Unkie Ian ?

Aye he's doon in the kitchen with Jamie and Michael, come lass your father looks like he's fit tae burst.

Down stairs..

I canna believe my brother was rutting like an animal in heat the pair of them were on the floor and then this wee one came in looking tae fill her belly, I ken who her father Is at least with her red locks and Fraser eyes.

She is definitely Jamie' s daughter alright.

Here I'll tack Michael up tae bed, Jamie once you've finished yer supper you Go up as well and no visiting rabbie Oot the window.

Our daughter will be saying that word for weeks now Jamie, what' s she going to be like when she' s older.

Dinna fash sassanach I'll teach her a new word tomorrow, she's a canny lass our daughter.

Six years later..

Brianna you need to come Ben the hoose now, yer da wants ye fer something.

Thank ye Jamie I'll just tak the horse Ben the stables, tell da Im sorting out dorcas.

I'll dae that you head in, he seemed nervous.

A dhia what have I done now, I havnae done anything have I ?

You cousin are always in trouble since you were yae high.

Yeh think she'll want to go sassanach ?

Want to go where da ?

Weel I've not long found Oot that my God father is alive and I'm going to Inverness tommorow tae bring him home.

Would ye like tae go wi me brianna, we might need tae sleep wi the heather a night or tae mind and hunt fer oor supper.

Aye da I'd love tae come wi yeh, can I bring My own gun ?

Ye'll need to if yeh want to hunt but I'll carry It on dorcas, you'll have the food and the camping gear on wee flora.

Are yeh coming mam ?

Of course I am I've known murtugh since I met your father, he was only twenty-two and very handsome.

I thought about his body now after ten years, his body hadn't changed much apart from a couple of extra scars from manual labour and his face Viking like was the Same with his slanted eyes slightly creased with being up since 4.30 for harvesting.

Jamie's hair was as red as ever like his daughters was slightly bleached with the sun was cut yesterday and was up in a band, he was leaning on the stone stile with myself on his lap.

Am I no bonny anymore sassanach, he had a slight smile in the corner of his lips.

Your as handsome as the day I met you, maybe not quite as reckless, your son on the other hand is worse, He had his hands in Mrs mcnabs bannock mix and then he drank his weights worth out of Maggie and she wasn't to happy.

William Robert James Fraser had got a telling of again as per usual but he found it boring to stay inside and now he couldn't sit down for being skelped by his da.

William was his fathers double with slanted eyes that were a deep blue and sturdy for his age of four, his red hair was curly with auburn flecks and slightly lighter with the sun.

Have you been up tae trouble again lad, come on we're about tae go to see your uncle murtugh. Get yer cousin to bridle young sawny and then get yer jacket on and tell yer auntie we're ready to leave.

Aye da is it just Mam, you and me?

No your sister is in the cart with yer mam already.

I' m no going with her, she stuffed my breeks full of straw and ran me doon the hill.

Jamie smiled trying not to laugh, while feeling slightly sorry for his son he was always in trouble and Claire's blood pressure heightened every day.

Well you'll just need tae find away to get yer sister back but nothing tae rough as ye cannae skelp a lassie, ye know that fair well.

With a fairwell and a good luck from Ian and Jenny we set of in search of my god father.